😳 Tshabalala and John Kennedy? Club World Cup stars you need to know! | OneFootball

When the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicks off in the USA, naturally, the stars of big clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, or PSG will be in the spotlight.

But alongside these famous faces, there are numerous lesser-known players that you should definitely keep an eye on in the coming weeks. Footballers who hardly anyone (anymore) has on their radar outside of their home leagues.

In this post, we take a closer, but not always entirely serious look at five such players.

Bruno Henrique

Do you remember the Champions League quarter-finals of the 2015/16 season, when VfL Wolfsburg sensationally won 2:0 against Real Madrid in the first leg? What sounds like a story from a parallel universe actually happened nine years ago!

Starting that evening in the Volkswagen Arena was a certain Bruno Henrique. The Brazilian, who never really settled in at Wolfsburg, perhaps played his best game in the Lower Saxony dress and duped his legendary compatriot Marcelo several times.

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📸 Stuart Franklin - 2016 Getty Images

Nine years after the magical Wolves' night, Henrique is back in his native Brazil. At the advanced footballer age of 34, he plays for Flamengo - and will face FC Chelsea, Espérance Tunis, and Los Angeles FC at the Club World Cup.

Jesús Corona

Jesús Corona cannot boast such a defining legacy game. But when it comes to who had the significantly longer and ultimately simply better career, the points victory here clearly goes to the Mexican.

Serving Porto and later Sevilla, Corona delighted European football stadiums for almost ten years. The right winger is one of the most technically gifted players of the past decade and is also an absolute FIFA legend. With five-star skills, he thrilled every passionate gamer!

Since 2023, Corona is back in Mexico and laces up his boots for CF Monterrey. Perhaps the last major highlight of his career: Participating in the Club World Cup including duels against River Plate, Inter, and the Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan.

Sanele Tshabalala

If you call yourselves football fans and the name "Tshabalala" doesn't give you goosebumps, then maybe you should reconsider your relationship with the beautiful game.

In the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first goal of the tournament, creating an indescribable moment of ecstasy.

📸 OMAR TORRES - 2010 AFP

15 years later, another Tshabalala is in the spotlight of the world public. Sanele, a whole 13 years younger than his namesake, is contracted to Mamelodi Sundowns and will face Borussia Dortmund in the USA among others!

Salomon Rondón

What Tshabalala still has in mind, this player has already achieved: In the Champions League round of 16 2013/14, Salomon Rondón shot Zenit St. Petersburg to a surprising 2:1 victory over BVB.

The striker from Venezuela was once considered a great talent and played in Europe for West Brom, Newcastle, and CSKA Moscow among others. The absolute breakthrough? Despite some quite appealing seasons, it didn't happen!

But in his old age, the 35-year-old wants to give it another go: For the Mexican club CF Pachuca, Rondón scored a strong 25 times in 50 league games. And at the Club World Cup, the burly attacker wants to show his skills against Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, and Red Bull Salzburg.

John Kennedy

Yes, this man is really named John Kennedy. And no, he is not from the USA, but from Brazil. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old must have heard comparisons with the legendary American president all his life.

📸 Manuel Velasquez - 2025 Getty Images

In the homeland of his namesake, Kennedy wants to make his first big footprint at the top international level! Also active for Pachuca, the extremely talented offensive player hopes to recommend himself for higher tasks.

Which games or events are you most looking forward to at the Club World Cup? Let us know in the comments!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Hector Vivas - 2025 Getty Images